Reducing Environmental Health Disparities through Adult Basic

Education

Gretchen Latowsky, M.Ed.

Terry Greene, M.S.

July 14, 2015

National Environmental Health Association Annual Education Conference, Orlando FL

The Concern

In 2012, over 18 million adults and almost 7 million children in the United States suffered from asthma. Asthma disproportionately affects low-income, ethnic, and racial groups that also lack access to information and care.

The Concern

Exposure to factors that trigger asthma are greater in home, work, school, and community environments where these populations live, work, and study.

The Concern

Language, literacy, and access to information form barriers to environmental health literacy.

The Opportunity

Adult basic education (ABE) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classrooms serve over 2 million learners/year.

The Opportunity

ABE/ESOL classes offer in-depth instruction by a teacher skilled at conveying information to low-literate and/or limited English-proficient students.

The Opportunity

Environmental health offers rich content to develop reading, writing, math, & analytical skills as well as self-efficiency, civil leadership, and other core competencies.

What Was Done?

3 lessons were designed on asthma and healthy homes for ABE and ESOL classes. Each included:

• Introduction to the Topic • Warm-up Activity • Class and Small Group Activities • Student Worksheets – Reading, Vocabulary Practice,

Matching Definitions, Comprehension, Writing • Take Home Activities • Reports Back to Class

What Was Done?

Lessons were pilot tested in multiple classrooms at 2 sites – one in Vermont and another in Massachusetts. (72 learners total)

The lessons provided students with tools and strategies to identify and take action to reduce asthma trigger factors that particularly affect the health of children disproportionately impacted by environmental health and environmental justice issues.

Content - Approach

• Lesson 1. Asthma Overview

• Lesson 2. Environmental Trigger Factors

• Lesson 3. Taking Action

• Focused on key messages

• Emphasized self-management, simple actions to reduce exposure to asthma trigger factors

• Reading comprehension

• Assessments of exposures in the home

Approach - Style

• Guided by ABE/ESOL programs & teachers

• Tailored to learners literacy levels

• Addressed learning needs & standards for ABE/ESOL curricula

• Varied modalities for multiple learning styles

• Action-oriented activities

• Clear tools & resources

• Teacher guidance

Field Test Findings

Field Test Findings

Question 4: Question 3:

Your Turn

Small Group Activity

Brainstorm 1. Discuss the environmental/health topic and the messages that could

be introduced in an ABE/ESOL lesson

2. Discuss a warm up activity to introduce the topic your students

3. Discuss an in-class or take-home activity to engage and educate students on the topic